Going Berserk

In the late autumn, the weather turned sharply cold.

Even for martial artists, before reaching the Xiantian realm, their bodies are still subject to the hardships of cold and heat.

Zhang Yu changed into a black satin-lined lambskin robe, worth thirty taels of silver.

Perhaps this is the advantage of being a martial artist; with strength, one will ultimately not remain in poverty and hardship for long.

That day, the haul from the Huang family was quite substantial. Besides distributing some to the imprisoned women and the exploited villagers of Meixi Village, there remained eighty taels of gold and two thousand taels of silver notes.

With so many people flocking into the Jianghu, diligently practicing martial arts, what else are they striving for if not fame and fortune?

Three days prior, a decree was issued from Blackwood Cliff: to mourn the thousand disciples lost in Cloud Water Hall and to commemorate the tragic defeat at Damaoling on Mount Heng, the Eastern Cult Master had decided to postpone the Divine Cult's Sacred Ceremony, held once every three years, until after vengeance was achieved.

Upon this order, the Sun Moon Divine Cult was revitalized, as if the diligent and reform-minded Holy Cult Master had returned, and the Jianghu would undoubtedly once again be swept by a storm of blood and violence.

Downstream from Gorilla Beach, in the reeds.

The scattered rocks at the riverbank were as red as blood, with white catkins flying.

A gentle breeze would stir, causing these white catkins to change direction, their trajectories unpredictable.

Zhang Yu strode across the rocky terrain, simultaneously dodging the reed catkins falling from the sky.

Achieving both simultaneously was not easy.

After increasing the difficulty of his training, he fell more than two hundred times before gradually finding his rhythm. Now, only a very few white catkins could still cling to his robes.

Unlike most Qinggong techniques that require focusing on breakthroughs in the acupoints on the legs, the Flying Cloud Divine Skill's Internal Energy originates from the Yongquan acupoint and circulates throughout the body, aiming to enhance overall agility.

It's akin to transitioning from a directional radar to a full-body sensory system, enabling rapid reactions.

External martial arts are typically divided into seven realms: Beginner, Proficient, Mastered, Minor Accomplishment, Major Accomplishment, Peak Perfection, and Divine Transformation.

Once the 'Flowing Clouds and Water' footwork reached proficiency, it could be used for travel. With his current Internal Energy, at full speed, he could cover fifty li in an hour.

However, in actual combat, anyone with even a little Jianghu experience would not do this.

If one were to travel recklessly, and happen to encounter an opponent when their Internal Energy was depleted, wouldn't that be a significant disadvantage?

"It's also time to break through."

The Dan Energy realm, after reaching Grand Perfection, requires considerable talent, comprehension, and continuous practice to achieve 'binding qi into an arrow and piercing a single point.' All the preceding stages are merely about accumulating Internal Energy through diligent effort.

He could have broken through to the mid-stage of Dan Energy half a month ago, but he intentionally held back to refine his Internal Energy further and practice his footwork simultaneously. Now that both plans have been realized, it is an opportune moment for a breakthrough.

Surrounded by reeds, the environment was serene.

Zhang Yu recalled the scene of the green-robed woman waiting by his side that night when he first opened his Dantian, and a sense of longing welled up in his heart.

The Mount Hua Sect and the Sun Moon Divine Cult were mortal enemies. The relationship between a righteous female hero and a Demonic Cult Flag Master was like a story from a romance novel.

"I wonder how she is after returning to Mount Hua?"

He put on the Green Jade Thumb Ring, sat cross-legged on a blue rock, and placed his black sword within easy reach, just in case of any unforeseen events.

Within the Golden Pool Dantian, a layer of mist floated.

The Purple Gold Lotus Seed, moistened by the mist, had its shell quietly developing fine cracks, and a small sprout was gathering strength to push through.

This was the miraculous nature of the Golden Pool Dantian.

Throughout a century of Jianghu history, only a handful of martial artists were known to possess a 'Golden Pool,' numbering no more than ten. Excluding those who perished midway, they could at least reach the Xiantian Grand Perfection realm and become giants of the Jianghu.

In the previous generation of the Jianghu, there were only a few such individuals: Ren Woxing of the Sun Moon Divine Cult, Chongxu of Wudang, the Abbot of the Dragon Taming Temple in the Western Regions, and the leader of the Wala tribe under the Northern Wolf Tribe's command.

"Only two people in this era have appeared with a Golden Pool Dantian."

"Linghu Chong, the senior disciple of Mount Hua, and Chen Lingyue, the junior uncle of Wudang, have already made names for themselves in the Jianghu."

"When will I, Zhang Yu, be known to the world?"

For some reason, today, after putting on the Green Jade Thumb Ring, Zhang Yu's state of mind could not become completely clear.

It should have been a mind as clear as a mirror stand, unstained by dust, but today, it seemed as if a few stray reed catkins had fallen, making it difficult to brush them away completely.

"Clear mind, embrace origin and maintain unity."

"Clear mind, embrace origin and maintain unity."

"Clear mind, embrace origin and maintain unity."

He took a deep breath and began to focus his mind, mobilizing the Internal Energy within the 'Golden Pool.'

As water flows naturally, the Internal Energy broke through the Left Shaoyin Heart Meridian, passing through Ji Quan, Qing Ling, Shao Hai, Ling Dao, Tong Li, Yin Xi, Shen Men, Shao Fu, and Shao Chong – nine acupoints in total, unstoppable.

Following the main meridian back into the Dantian, that portion of mist became more solidified, and under the impact of the scorching blood energy, it gradually condensed into water droplets.

Two hours later.

In the Golden Pool Dantian, more than half of the mist had turned into water, symbolizing a further refinement of the Internal Energy.

"From opening the Dantian to breaking through to the mid-stage of Dan Energy, I wonder if it's fast or slow."

Zhang Yu opened his eyes, exhaled a turbid breath, and felt the quantity and quality of his Internal Energy had significantly improved compared to before. He was secretly delighted.

"Huh?"

As Zhang Yu stood up, he suddenly felt a wave of dizziness, and his head began to throb intensely.

Instantly, countless scenes flashed through his mind like a painted scroll.

Endless turmoil arose within him, his thoughts tangled like a ball of yarn...

Cloud Water Hall below Damaoling, littered with corpses, Wang Liyu's unconvinced face.

In the nameless mountains, Wu Lianjiang's regrets and hopes before death.

By the Flowing Gold River, in the dim lamplight, the green-skirted maiden's tears and laughter.

Tong Baixiong's schemes beneath his rough exterior, Qi Zhaogu's unspoken words after getting drunk.

Yang Lianting's insidious cruelty in Chengde Hall.

Dongfang Bubai's unfathomable mystery behind the purple bead curtain.

Meixi Village's local tyrant Huang Wencai's final madness.

What distinguishes humans from plants is the existence of endless thoughts.

Joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, love, hate, past events, future expectations – all become thoughts.

Now, these thoughts surged forth together, like a flood breaking through a dam.

"Ah!" Zhang Yu felt like his head was about to explode.

It was only then that he understood. Whenever he used the Green Jade Thumb Ring, he could easily achieve the 'clear mind, embrace origin and maintain unity' that others yearned for, and even enter a state of Samadhi. But those distracting thoughts hadn't disappeared; they were merely blocked outside his mind for the time being.

The longer he used the Green Jade Thumb Ring, the deeper it was bound to his flesh and blood. It was, in a way, a warning.

There were too many scattered thoughts, reaching the limit of what the Green Jade Thumb Ring could bear.

Reeds flew into the sky, their white fluff scattering like a blizzard.

To alleviate the pain in his mind, Zhang Yu subconsciously swung his sword, as if he could cut down all those reeds.

But the reeds, like the杂念 in his heart, fell one after another, yet he could never chop them all down, never finish cutting them.

He didn't know how much time had passed. The last shred of his clarity was about to blur when he heard an anxious voice.

"Zhang Yu, what's wrong?"

"Miss, please step back. This person seems to have run into trouble practicing his skills, it looks like... qi deviation."

"Sister Xiaochai, your Qinggong is excellent, hurry back to Blackwood Cliff and ask Grandpa to come."

"Who is this person? May I trouble you, Right Envoy, but I'm afraid that's not appropriate?"

"He's my friend!"